March debut for the European version of Volt extended-range electric vehicle,
which could be built in Britain.

Vauxhall has revealed the first image of its version of the electrically-powered Chevrolet Volt, which will be shown at the Geneva motor show in March.

Known as the Ampera, the five-seat, four-door hatchback will go on sale in 2011 in right-hand-drive form shortly after the Opel - also part of General Motors - version appears in Europe. The car is based on the Vauxhall Astra, with a 400lb, T-shaped lithium-ion battery positioned under the body floor.

After Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed the desire to make Britain a centre of excellence for electric-car manufacturing, the Ampera is the subject of great interest from the British Government, which is said to be keen that it will be built at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory, which already produces the Astra and Astravan. The first versions of the vehicle, however, will be produced in Michigan, America, but talks are said to be on-going about possible UK manufacture.

The Ampere shares the same battery/electric hybrid driveline as the Volt, which General Motors terms an extended-range electric vehicle. The advanced 16kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged via mains electricity to provide a 40-mile range with zero tailpipe emissions. When the battery is exhausted, the specially-modified 1.4-litre petrol engine will generate electricity to supply power to the 111kW electric drive motor and provide a similar range to that of a conventional Vauxhall Astra. The car recycles about half its battery capacity and the recharging time, using a household 240 volt supply, is claimed to be about three hours.

GM says that 80 per cent of European motorists drive no more than 31 miles a day, so in most cases the Ampera's petrol engine will never need to be started.

The Chevrolet Volt version will go on sale in the US next year and will cost $40,000 at launch. GM is reluctant to say how much the Ampera will cost, but Hans Demant, Opel's European MD, says that it will not be cheap. "The battery is expensive," he admits, "and when you look at the price only, this looks quite expensive. When you take in the low cost of electricity, though, you come up with some interesting technology at low running costs. We are looking at alternative marketing strategies for this car when it goes on sale."

GM admits that the silent running of the Volt/Ampera when in pure battery mode could pose some problems for pedestrains who might not hear it approaching in built-up areas. "It is a challenge," said a spokesman, "and we are working on an early warning solution."